Bowling: KISS Camp culminates with fun, not so easy bowl-off

Hall of Fame Coach Jeri Edwards coaches during the three-day annual Bowling Boot Camp helps bowlers work on elements of their game with professional coaches at Rockaway Lanes. June 29, 2018. Rockaway, NJ(Photo: Bob Karp/Staff Photographer)Buy Photo

Welcome to Part Two of the 18th Pro Image KISS Bowling Camp, as in Keep It Simple Stupid.

You could say that this year’s camp was conducted in the “missing man formation.” Fred Borden, the man who invented coaching, was unable to attend the camp he had co-founded with Ken Yokobosky. Borden had a couple of surgeries this year and needed further recovery time. He promised he would return for the 19th camp.

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Hall of Fame Coach Jeri Edwards coaches during the three-day annual Bowling Boot Camp helps bowlers work on elements of their game with professional coaches at Rockaway Lanes. June 29, 2018. Rockaway, NJ Bob Karp/Staff Photographer

Ty Carra of Parsippany bowls during the three-day annual Bowling Boot Camp helping bowlers work on elements of their game with professional coaches at Rockaway Lanes. June 29, 2018. Rockaway, NJ
Bob Karp/Staff Photographer

Amanda Granata of Florham Park bowls during the three-day annual Bowling Boot Camp helping bowlers work on elements of their game with professional coaches at Rockaway Lanes. June 29, 2018. Rockaway, NJ Bob Karp/Staff Photographer

Ty Carra of Parsippany bowls during the three-day annual Bowling Boot Camp helping bowlers work on elements of their game with professional coaches at Rockaway Lanes. June 29, 2018. Rockaway, NJ Bob Karp/Staff Photographer

Curtis Frazier of Rockaway bowls during the three-day annual Bowling Boot Camp helping bowlers work on elements of their game with professional coaches at Rockaway Lanes. June 29, 2018. Rockaway, NJ
Bob Karp/Staff Photographer

Curtis Frazier of Rockaway bowls during the three-day annual Bowling Boot Camp helping bowlers work on elements of their game with professional coaches at Rockaway Lanes. June 29, 2018. Rockaway, NJ
Bob Karp/Staff Photographer

Hall of Fame Coach Jeri Edwards gives a high-five to Amelia Brunda of Paramus as she coaches during the three-day annual Bowling Boot Camp helps bowlers work on elements of their game with professional coaches at Rockaway Lanes. June 29, 2018. Rockaway, NJ
Bob Karp/Staff Photographer

Hall of Fame Coach Jeri Edwards coaches during the three-day annual Bowling Boot Camp helps bowlers work on elements of their game with professional coaches at Rockaway Lanes. June 29, 2018. Rockaway, NJ
Bob Karp/Staff Photographer

Hall of Fame Coach Jeri Edwards coaches during the three-day annual Bowling Boot Camp helps bowlers work on elements of their game with professional coaches at Rockaway Lanes. June 29, 2018. Rockaway, NJ
Bob Karp/Staff Photographer

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So what was taught and learned over three short days? Drills, self-perception, delivery, lane play, equipment, mental game and even what to carry in one’s accessory bag. Coach John Neral conducted an interactive presentation on goal setting, comparing outcome-oriented goals versus process-oriented goals. He further discussed seven levels of energy, and how they pertain to the individual and his team mates.

The Sunday sessions were the most fun, especially when the camp culminated with coaches forming teams by random drawing for a final bowl-off, but it wasn’t as simple as trying to get the highest team score.

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Curtis Frazier of Rockaway bowls during the three-day annual Bowling Boot Camp helping bowlers work on elements of their game with professional coaches at Rockaway Lanes. June 29, 2018. Rockaway, NJ(Photo: Bob Karp/Staff Photographer)

In a Baker style format, each bowler was to try to pick off the corner pin only in order to get the lowest team score. However, a gutter ball on the first shot counted as a strike, or 10. A gutter on the second ball counted as a spare.

Mary Poppins wins

In the grand finale, Jeri Edwards’ Mary Poppins team took the title. Ironically, the youngest bowler (Amanda Granata) and oldest (Bob Pontillo) were part of that team, along with Nicholas D. Tommaso and Ron Gaudio, both from Staten Island, and Caldwell University bowler Madison Perry.

A pleasant and most educational experience was the Storm ball demo day, the best way to try bowling balls before buying. Each bowler’s ball was measured for span and fit, and paired with balls fitted with inserts to match the bowler’s own ball drilling. A number of different balls were available to test, and many discounted sales were made on the spot. Me? I can’t wait to try my new Storm Idol in league play this fall!

As much as the coaches and Rockaway Lanes staff made this all look easy, it was not. Rich Mark, owner of the lanes, and Dori Tingoli, manager, had to clear the center for three days. That meant that people coming in out of the intense heat to bowl were turned away until after 4 p.m. No birthday parties could be scheduled for those three days either.

Amanda Granata of Florham Park bowls during the three-day annual Bowling Boot Camp helping bowlers work on elements of their game with professional coaches at Rockaway Lanes. June 29, 2018. Rockaway, NJ(Photo: Bob Karp/Staff Photographer)

The statistics show that people traveled from South Jersey, parts of Pennsylvania and Staten Island. Twenty-seven campers were male, eight were female. Six were left-handed and 29 were right-handed. Six already had sanctioned 300 games and two had 800 series’ to their name. The most amazing stat was that 21 of the 35 campers were returning bowlers.

The returning attorney-bowler, John Molluzzo, said of his second camp, “These are the best coaches in the world. Last year they provided good instruction for me, basic. This year the presentations were different and I learned something new. I also like being around people who love bowling.”

If the success of the camp is reflected in returning customers, note that the line for putting down a $50 deposit for next year’s camp went through the door of the pro shop and out into the hallway.

Calendar

July 22: The 14th Morris County USBC WBA Hall of Fame inductions at Zeris Inn, Mountain Lakes. The event will start at 11:30 a.m. with a cash bar and light hors d’oeuvres, followed by dinner at 12:30 p.m.. Contact Susan Olivo, 174 Whisper Way E., Ledgewood, NJ 07852 for additional information or any questions, or call 973-668-5606 or 201-213-6786.